Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) is an unparalleled experience for fans of frights, chills, and thrills. As one of the most popular Halloween events in the country, it draws thousands of visitors eager to brave its haunted houses, scare zones, and terrifying live entertainment. While the standard experience is enough to get your heart racing, there’s a way to elevate your night of screams: the RIP Tour.
We booked an RIP Tour for last Sunday and I can confidently say that the cost of the tour was well worth it! Our group of ten was made up of some HHN super fans, casual fans, and even first-timers and all of us agreed that an RIP Tour is the best possible way to experience HHN. Read on for a deep dive into our experience and why the RIP Tour is an investment that HHN fans should seriously consider.
What is an RIP Tour?
The RIP Tour is a guided experience at Halloween Horror Nights that offers guests the chance to explore the park’s scares with exclusive perks. Think of it as the VIP treatment, but with a spooky twist. Led by a knowledgeable guide, the tour provides a curated, stress-free journey through the event’s many attractions.
RIP Tour costs vary based on date and DO NOT include the cost of your Halloween Horror Nights admission, so be sure to factor that cost into your budget.
There are two types of RIP Tours available:
- Private: Up to ten guests with a dedicated RIP Tour Guide that start as early as 5:30 PM and continues until the end of HHN (2 AM).
- VIP entrance to Universal Studios Florida
- Pre-Tour Reception
- Customizable itinerary
- Unlimited immediate VIP entry to all haunted houses while with your RIP guide
- Reserved seating at shows
- Unlimited Express access to participating regular park attractions with your RIP Tour credential following the tour
- Access to exclusive cash bar locations
- Commemorative RIP Tour credential with lanyard
- Complimentary standard valet parking
- Non-Private: 12 guests with a dedicated RIP Tour Guide that start at various times. The tour lasts up to 4 hours and groups will be combined. Please note that you can only have 6 people in your immediate party.
- VIP entrance to Universal Studios Florida
- Pre-Tour Reception
- One-time immediate VIP entry to all haunted houses while with your RIP guide
- Reserved seating at select shows
- Unlimited Express access to participating regular park attractions with your RIP Tour credential following the tour
- Access to exclusive cash bar locations
- Commemorative RIP Tour credential with lanyard
- Complimentary standard valet parking
We booked a private RIP Tour and would recommend going this route. We were able to make our own itinerary for the evening and could do houses multiple times if we wanted.
The Benefits of Taking an RIP Tour
- Priority Access to Haunted Houses: One of the biggest draws of Halloween Horror Nights is its incredibly detailed and spine-chilling haunted houses. However, these can also mean waiting in line for hours to experience them. With the RIP Tour, you get priority access to all haunted houses, bypassing the lines entirely. This means more time enjoying the houses, exploring scare zones, and sampling food, and less time standing in long queues.
- Guided Experience with Insider Knowledge: The RIP Tour is led by a Universal Orlando guide who knows the event inside and out. These guides offer fascinating behind-the-scenes stories, fun facts, and tips that you won’t find anywhere else. Their expertise enhances the overall experience, making each haunted house even more engaging and immersive. Before we went into each house, our tour guide, Dwayne, would tell us the backstory of the house and any fun tidbits (like each house this year has a snail hidden in it plus a dessert that pays homage to the house’s code name). Being “back-doored” into houses also meant that we got to see the backstage where scare actors where getting their makeup done, switching casts, and more.
- Reserved Seating at Live Shows: Halloween Horror Nights often features spectacular live shows, such as the “Halloween Nightmare Fuel” series. These shows can draw large crowds, but RIP Tour guests enjoy reserved seating, ensuring they get a great view without having to arrive early.
- Access to Exclusive Areas and Special Experiences: Some RIP Tours include access to exclusive areas within the park that are otherwise off-limits to general guests. These may include private lounges, photo opportunities, or early access to certain houses. These special experiences add an extra layer of value and fun to your night. We were able to hangout on the deck of Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon – a real treat since it started raining right then!
- Complimentary Valet Parking For those driving to the event, RIP Tour guests are treated to complimentary valet parking. This perk saves time and adds convenience, especially when arriving or leaving during peak times.
- A Stress-Free Evening The ultimate benefit of the RIP Tour is that it removes the stress and guesswork from your evening. The event can be overwhelming with so many houses, attractions, and shows to choose from, not to mention the huge crowds. The RIP Tour ensures a smooth, streamlined experience, so you can focus on having fun.
- Unlimited Express Pass to Rides and Attractions Along with priority access to the haunted houses, the RIP Tour also includes unlimited Express Pass access to the regular park attractions that remain open during the event. This is a great bonus for guests who want to enjoy their favorite rides without the typical wait times.
Is the RIP Tour Worth the Cost?
So yes, an RIP Tour is more expensive than a standard Halloween Horror Nights ticket (reminder you do need to purchase a Halloween Horror Night ticket in addition), but when you consider the value of the benefits it provides and the fact that you can ensure you’ll visit each house (at least once), it becomes clear why we believe it’s worth it and recommend it to families looking to visit HHN.
If you’re looking to make the most of your night — experiencing every haunted house, riding all the attractions, and enjoying the shows without the stress of planning and waiting — the RIP Tour is an ideal choice.
How to Book an RIP Tour
If you’re interested in booking an RIP Tour, be sure to reach out for complimentary assistance. A member of KMV Travel will work with you to select a date, secure your tickets, reserve your Tour, and ensure you don’t miss out on any of the benefits.